Giving Birth (Awaiting the Promise)

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

 John 16:21,22

 

It’s been 12+ years since those days of pregnancy and having a baby in the house. Precious memories!

We recently started transferring video tapes to digital format. Last week, we were doing the births of our two younger sons and I heard some awful noises coming from the computer and asked, “what was that?” My husband answered, “that was you.” Evidently I made a bit of noise in those last stages of delivery.

Oh my! I had forgotten about that part of it. (good thing) As soon as that baby was born my mind was focused on this new precious life, and the pain was quickly forgotten. All those months of waiting for the arrival were over and I could hold the promise in my arms.

Several years ago I had dreams about being pregnant and giving birth. (God often speaks to me through my dreams, but almost always it is symbolic.) I was in a time of preparation and knew that God was birthing something new in me. The waiting was difficult. I decided to worship through the waiting and to seek God for His peace in the midst of great unrest. Not easy. But He met me in those places and got me through.

 It was not clear to me what we were going to give birth to. I knew it was a ministry, but I had my ideas of it and God had his and these weren’t lining up.  I continued to pray for His will and not my own as best I could. He led me one step at a time and eventually got me to the place of opening Foundations Christian Counseling and Consulting.

But, just like those final moments are the most painful before the baby actually comes, so it was with birthing this ministry. It was painful, but now I am holding the promise in my arms.

Maybe you are in a season of preparation. Maybe God has spoken a promise and you are waiting for it to come. Choose to worship and seek God. He will give you the endurance you need to see it through. It will be worth the wait and soon you will be holding the promise in your arms.

Until next time...

And the greatest of these is love